Bars, Bologna, Modena and delicious food.

 Bars are everywhere in Italy. However, they are a place that is dissimilar to the bars we know back home.  Here they evolve throughout the day. In the morning, they are a place where coffee (and tobacco in the past) were purchased to be consumed while standing "at the bar".  You can also ask for a coffee and have it seated, but it can cost a little more. Additionally, you would have your breakfast whilst having the coffee, normally a croissant (cornetto natural, filled with jam or Nutella).

From mid-morning, the bar evolves slightly, with small sandwiches and sweet cakes being served with coffee.  Some customers may also have a glass of wine, but most are still on coffee.

Around midday, the bar will kick into lunch mode, as it is a cheap place to get a snack for lunch, another coffee or even something stronger.

Depending on the town or city, the bar will either become a little quiet mid-afternoon or, in larger places, stay busy, serving cocktails and aperitif (a selection of savoury snacks, normally free with an afternoon drink). 

These bars are very local, with them being everywhere, all different, all local run, people know the barperson, and they know exactly what the customer wants. 

We have one bar we frequent when we visit Bologna, "Mio Bar" and once again, we have visited our friend this trip, more to follow on this tomorrow. However, it is good having a friend and familiar face in town. 

(See the blog from 2016 when we last visited Mio Bar - https://travellingwalshs.blogspot.com/2016/09/today-we-graduated-with-diploma-in_1.html)

After visiting Mio Bar today, we took a day trip to Modena, where Katie was able to make a purchase at a leather shop we visited back in 2016. It is worth noting Modena does sleep most afternoons. We found most shops closed till at least 15:30.

Free entry 9am - 1pm
4pm - 7:30pm
CLOSED 1pm - 4pm

We were able to wander the streets and saw the church, amazing, the central market (closing for the day) and had an aperitif at a bar!

 

 

On our return to Bologna, we booked a table for dinner at La Salsamenteria Bologna, and it was better than expected!

Katie and I both had pasta from the Primi selections. Katie had spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and basil with burrata cheese on top. I had Gramigna pasta with a sausage ragu.

  

To finish from the second menu, Katie had meatballs in a pea and tomato sauce, and I had beef rolls (strips of beef with prosciutto and parmesan chees inside) in a tomato sauce, and we shared some roasted/grilled vegetables. 

  

This was an amazing meal and a little unexpected as we booked it via "The Fork" app.  It would appear since the pandemic, restaurants, even the great ones, are evolving to technology, making it simpler for them to get customers and also simpler for the customer to access great food. 

Finally, I will leave you with this picture I took this afternoon in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna of Basilica di San Petronio.